Thursday, December 5, 2013

Yesterday I set out on a pre-Christmas challenge — to post a tip a day we can collectively follow with the goal of making the world a better place.

Since at least two researchers have learned that positive ideas have a greater effect on behavior than gloomy facts and figures, and that games work the best of all, I am starting off with a fun idea.

Today’s suggestion: Repurpose Something.

Perhaps you don’t really need a new table. Maybe all you need to do is to apply a coat of paint to the old one.

Or, maybe you have several different items that you can put together to become something else. Check out this site for ideas.

Or, suppose you have some vintage salvaged parts just crying out to be transformed into a unique gift.

Can you guess what these candlesticks once were?

Or, let’s say your bureau is stuffed with ugly Christmas sweaters and you don’t know what to do with them. I have the answer. Over Thanksgiving I learned about the latest craze among the under 30s — Swantsing. In the words of Swants creator Stephen West, “The time has come for Swants aka Sweater Pants! Your booty deserves to be just as warm as your torso.” Curious? Read more here or watch the video below.

Pictured below are my niece Sophie, a college sophomore, and her friend transforming a pair of wild and crazy sweaters into Swants. Don’t they look comfy?

Photo by Ted Randolph

If you are not daring enough to give Swantsing a try, empty your bureau anyway. Give your sweaters to a young person you know or donate them to the local thrift shop. They’ll be scooped up in no time.

That’s it for today. “See you tomorrow.”

“All together now,” as the Beatles once sang. Let’s see how much good we can do over the next few weeks.